Somewhere, lost in the vast desert of Hueco Mundo was a small, sunken cave. The cave was hidden from plain sight and could only be entered through one way. A small entrance in the front, not nearly big enough for a hollow to go inside. Inside, was Lucy lying down in a comatose like state. However, her cheeks were a bright red and her temperature was high. She had a severe fever the entire time, forcing Hozumi to fend for himself the entire week. Hozumi sat on the sand, his back against the rock wall. His clothes were torn and tattered, his hair was dirty and his face was covered in dry blood. Surprisingly, his body had grown quite exponentially. His body was now that of a 5 year olds, going onto 6. Lucy's sword rested on his shoulder, his head looking down at the sand "...mom..." The main thing driving him was the hope of seeing his mother again one day, longing for her warm and reassuring hugs. He stood up, unsheathing the blade and leaving the sheathe with Lucy. He walked towards the entrance, turning back for a moment "Hopefully I can find medicine soon, I'll be back" He turned around, climbing out of the small hole and standing in the open of Hueco Mundo. He surveyed the area, making sure no hollows were around. Shortly after, he began running in the vast desert to find his next meal. 

Hozumi ran with all his might, running towards a large valley created from the rocks of Hueco Mundo. Behind him, was a black tiger like hollow [b]"Stop running child! Give up and let me devour on your flesh!"[/b] The hollow said, grinning as it continued to chase Hozumi towards the valley. Hozumi finally made it to the valley, only to be disappointed. It came to a dead end, a massive wall too high for Hozumi to climb. [b]"Looks like your luck has run out demon child, I finally have you"[/b] Hozumi turned, the tiger hollow's red eyes glaring at Hozumi. [b]"I know this desert like the back of my paw!"[/b] Hozumi grinned "Think about it, who lead who here?" The hollow's eyes widened. Hozumi nodded "Lets end this rivalry. I've been wanting to kill you this entire time" The hollow's eyes remained wide, shocked that a young child could already release a bloodlust. Its eyes returned to normal, grinning afterwards [b]"Its time I avenge the lives of the hollows you've eaten you devil!"[/b] From behind, the hollow's tail went flying towards Hozumi. Hozumi ran forward, moving his head to the left and evading the tail. "Lets see you block this!" Hozumi tossed the sword in the air, making the hollow look up at it with curiosity. As he looked down, Hozumi had already jumped and delivered a dropkick to the hollow's face. Using all his strength, Hozumi kicked off the hollow's face and went flying into the air, catching his sword and landing on the air. The hollow growled, taking no real damage but mad that he fell for a trick [b]"How is this possible?! You were barely able to escape with your life last time, how have you grown so much stronger?![/b] Hozumi grinned "Don't know, I guess I'm just a quick learner" Hozumi ducked, evading the hollow's swiping tail from behind. He leaped back, gaining some extra distance

The hollow gritted its teeth [b][i]How is this possible, he's just a child. But yet, its like he knows my every move. Even before I make them! What the hell is this thing[/i][/b] The hollow grinned [b]"I bet if I eat you, I'll become more powerful"[/b] The hollow began to laugh. Hozumi smirked "Funny, I was thinking the same thing" The hollow's laugh quickly turned into an angry expression [b]"Arrogant child!"[/b] Its tail straightened out, zooming towards Hozumi. Hozumi leaped over the tail, landing on it and quickly running towards the hollow. The tip of it's tail quickly bent, changing its direction back towards Hozumi. Hozumi jumped, spinning in the air to hit the tail in one of its weak spots. The tip of the tail was cut off, causing the hollow to let out a roar. As Hozumi fell on the ground, he slashed through the tail, this time cutting it off completely. The hollow roared, taking a step back. Hozumi lifted the tail from the ground, taking a bite out of it and eating the meat. The hollow watched, wide eyed [b]"W-What are you?"[/b] Hozumi turned to the hollow, his eyes glowing in the dark and his body's abilities increasing "Wow, you're pretty strong huh" Hozumi said, dropping the tail. The hollow let out a low and threatening growl [b]"Stay back!"[/b] It opened its mouth, a red specks of energy forming around. They all began to concentrate around one area, a ball of bright red energy forming in its mouth. Hozumi grinned, grabbing the hilt with both hands and charging towards the hollow. It took steps back as it charged the cero and Hozumi got closer. As Hozumi ran, black reiatsu began to be released from his body. He leaped in the air, covered in a veil of black reiatsu with small specks of white and yellow. The hollow roared, firing its cero. Hozumi released a roar as well, slashing downwards at the weak cero. An explosion set off from the two colliding, the entire area being covered dust cloud. The hollow remained still [b]"I-Impossible"[/b] Its mask was sliced into two, falling apart. Its body fell over, dead from the slash. Hozumi was heavily panting, on a knee and blood dripping "I did it mommy" He said, as he passed out and his body fell forward.

A shadow walked up over to Hozumi's unconscious body. The person lifted Hozumi into her arms, a breeze coming through the valley and removing Lucy's hood [b]"Sorry I've been gone so long Hozumi, I had business to take care of back home"[/b] She moved his dirty hair away from his eyes. Her arms were covered in a blue glow, small specks of blue rising from her arms. The glow was healing all of Hozumi's wounds. She turned to the dead hollow. She smirked [b]"If you saw your kid, you'd be so proud of him Viole"[/b] She said, keeping the smile the whole time and grabbed the hollow by its leg. She dragged its corpse as she carried Hozumi back to their base.